Miniature rose plant named ‘KORkihot’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of miniature rose with long lasting, novel hot pink flowers, and dark green and attractive foliage. It exhibits compact, uniform growth and flowering under greenhouse conditions when grown as a potted floral plant. The new variety propagates well from cuttings and by grafting. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Genus, species and variety denomination: The botanical classification ofthe new rose plant is Rosa hybrida, ‘KORkihot’.

CROSS REFERENCES AND FEDERAL R&D STATEMENT

There are no cross-referenced or related applications. This variety wasdeveloped without the aid of any research grant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present discovery constitutes a new and distinct variety of aminiature pot rose plant which was discovered in a cultivated area inSeptember, 2007. Said cultivated area consists of a climate-controlledglass house specially designed for production of potted floral plants,and is owned by the applicant. The new rose variety resulted from anaturally occurring mutation of unknown causation on a branch of‘KORhedani’, a patented rose described and illustrated in U.S. PlantPat. No. 19,598, and issued on Dec. 30, 2008.

The new rose plant was asexually propagated for further evaluation. Thisnew and distinctive miniature rose variety is named ‘KORkihot’.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCOVERY

The new rose plant may be distinguished from ‘KORhedani’, by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘KORkihot’ has hot pink flowers, while the parent plant has        dark red flowers.    -   2. ‘KORkihot’ has a flower diameter of 40 mm, while the parent        plant has a flower diameter of 55 mm.

The new and distinct rose plant was selected due it its':

-   -   1. Compact and uniform growth and flowering under greenhouse        conditions when grown as a potted floral plant;    -   2. Abundant, long lasting, and attractive hot pink flowers on        upright stems;    -   3. Resistance to diseases encountered in greenhouse and nursery        culture; and    -   4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in floral        and nursery containers;

This combination of qualities is not present in prior rose cultivars.These objectives have been substantially achieved and in thatdistinguish ‘KORkihot’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of the rose development program, Tim-Hermann Kordes asexuallypropagated the mutation by rooting cuttings and conducted evaluationsand observations on the resulting plants in a controlled environment inOffenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany. The resulting seedlings exhibiteddistinctive physical and biological characteristics. The first asexualreproduction of ‘KORkihot’ was done by rooting softwood cuttings inOctober, 2007 at the Rosa-Danica Nursery in Odense, Denmark.

This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlledenvironments show that the foregoing and all other characteristics of‘KORkihot’ come true to form and are transmitted through succeedinggenerations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing shows as true as is reasonably possible toobtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics ofthe buds, flowers, leaves, and stems of ‘KORkihot’. Specificallyillustrated is: a flower bud, partially opened bloom, open bloom, floralparts, sepals, juvenile foliage, stem exhibiting thorns, and leaves.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of ‘KORkihot’, as observed in its growthin August, 2008 in a nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. on plants of sixmonths of age. Color references are made using The Royal HorticulturalSociety (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001 except where common termsof color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘KORhedani’, a rose variety from the same inventor described andillustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,598 and issued on Dec. 30, 2008are compared to ‘KORkihot’ in Chart 1.

CHART 1 ‘KORkihot’ ‘KORhedani’ General tonality on Red-Purple Group RedGroup 53A open flower N57A Flower petal count 35-40 petals 30-32 petalsPistil count Approximately 30-40 Approximately 60

-   Parent: ‘KORhedani’.-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical classification.—Rosa hybrida, var. ‘KORkihot’.        -   Commercial classification.—Miniature rose.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 20 mm in length from base of receptacle            to end of bud and 12 mm in diameter at its widest point.        -   Bud form.—Long. Pointed ovoid.        -   Bud color.—As sepals first unfold, bud color is Red-Purple            Group N66A. When ¼ open, the upper surface of petals is            Red-Purple Group N57B, and the lower surface is Red-Purple            Group N57B.        -   Sepals.—Size: Average 18-20 mm long×4-5 mm wide. Shape:            Sepals generally subulate. Sepal apex is generally cirrose.            Strong foliaceous appendages on three of the five sepals.            Base is flat at union with receptacle. Quantity: Five.            Margins: With stipitate glands. Surface texture: Inner side:            Covered in fine white hairs. Outer side: Stipitate glands            are present. Color: Upper surface: Green Group 138A. Lower            surface: Yellow-Green Group 144A and Yellow-Green Group            144B.-   Receptacle:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 145A.        -   Shape.—Funnel shaped.        -   Size.—6 mm (h)×5 mm (w).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Surface.—With stipitate glands.        -   Length.—30-32 mm average length.        -   Diameter.—1.0-1.5 mm average diameter.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 145A.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Borne.—Multiple flower buds per stem, generally 2 to 4.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Duration.—Long lasting. A blooming plant with flowers has a            commercial shelf life of 18 to 20 days. The blooms have a            duration on the plant of approximately 14 to 16 days.        -   Size.—Medium for an 8-11 cm pot rose. Average flower            diameter is 40 mm when open. Average flower depth is 25 mm.        -   Form.—Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Upon            opening, upper part: Convex. Upon opening, lower part: Flat.            Open flower, upper part: Flattened convex. Open flower,            lower part: Concave.-   Color:    -   -   Upon opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side:            Red-Purple Group N57B. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group N57A.            Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group N57B. Inner            Side: Red-Purple Group N57A.        -   Upon opening, basal petal spots.—Basal petal spot, outermost            petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Inner Side:            Green-Yellow Group 1C. Basal petal spot, innermost petals:            Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Inner Side: Green-Yellow            Group 1C.        -   After opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side:            Red-Purple Group N57B. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group N57A.            Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group N57B. Inner            Side: Red-Purple Group N57A.        -   After opening, basal petal spots.—Basal petal spot,            outermost petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Inner            Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Basal petal spot, innermost            petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1D. Inner Side:            Green-Yellow Group 1D. Variegations: None.-   General Tonality: On open flower Red-Purple Group N57A. No change in    the general tonality at the end of the 8th day. Afterwards, general    tonality is Red-Purple Group N57C.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal count.—Approximately 35-40 petals under normal            conditions.        -   Petal reflex.—Petals reflex slightly strongly.        -   Petal edge.—Entire.        -   Petal shape.—Round to deltoid. Apex shape is round. Shape of            base is acute.        -   Petal size.—18-20 mm long; 20-22 mm wide.        -   Thickness.—Average.        -   Petal arrangement.—Generally in a regular pattern with            overlapping edges.        -   Petaloids.—Present.        -   Petaloid count.—Average of 5-10 per flower.        -   Petaloid edge.—Entire.        -   Petaloid texture.—Rugose.        -   Petaloid shape.—Linear to elliptic.        -   Petaloid size.—Petaloids are 8-15 mm long and 7-10 mm wide.        -   Petaloid color.—Color of inner side is Red-Purple Group            N57A. Color of outer side is Red-Purple Group N57B with            intonations of White N155C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—Approximately 30-40 present. Stigmas: Location:            Superior in position to anthers. Color: Greyed-Yellow Group            160D. Styles: Length: 4 mm long. Color: Greyed-Yellow Group            160D.        -   Stamens.—Approximately 40-50 on average and regularly            arranged. Anthers: Size: 1 mm long. Color: Orange Group 26C.            Pollen: Absent. Filaments: Color: Yellow Group 2A. Length:            4-5 mm.

THE PLANT

-   -   -   Plant growth.—Moderately vigorous. Upright to bushy habit.            When grown as an 8-11 cm pot plant, the average height of            the plant itself is 20-25 cm and the average width is 20-22            cm.        -   Stems.—Stem color: Young wood: Yellow-Green Group 144B.            Older wood: Green Group 138A. Stem surface: Young wood:            Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.        -   Prickles.—Present. Incidence: 2-5 per 10 cm of stem. Size:            Average length: 4 mm. Color: Immature prickles: Orange-White            Group 159B. Mature prickles: Greyed-Orange Group N167D.            Senescing to Greyed-Orange Group N167A. Shape: Deeply            concave. Anthocyanin: Absent.        -   Leaves and leaflets.—Normally 3-5 leaflets on normal leaves            in middle of the stem. Venation pattern: Pyramidal net            pattern. Leaf size: 80-90 mm (l)×45-55 mm (w). Quantity:            Abundant. Texture: Upper side of leaflet: Semi glossy.            Smooth. Under side of leaflet: Semi glossy. Rough. Color,            mature foliage: Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group 138A. Lower            Leaf Surface: Green Group 138B. Color, juvenile foliage:            Upper Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Lower Leaf            Surface: Green Group 138A. Anthocyanin intonation: Absent.        -   Stipules.—Size: 8-9 mm long. 4 mm between the tips of the            stipule. Main body of stipule 2-3 mm in width. Shape:            Longitudinally flanged or winged along middle. Stipule            color: Yellow-Green Group 144A and Yellow-Green Group 144B.            Presence of stipitate glands: Very few on margins. Margins:            Few stipitate glands.        -   Petiole.—Length: 10 mm-12 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Petiole color:            Yellow Green Group 144A. Underneath: An occasional prickle            underneath. Stipitate glands: Limited numbers of stipitate            glands on margins.        -   Petiole rachis.—Length: 15 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color:            Yellow-Green Group 144A. Prickles: An occasional prickle            underneath. Stipitate glands: Limited numbers of stipitate            glands on margins.        -   Leaflets.—Size: Average size of the terminal leaflet is 35            mm (l)×20 mm (w). Shape: Ovate. Base: Ovate. Apex: Acute.            Surface: Upper side: Semi-glossy. Lower side: Matte.            Margins: Finely serrated. Texture: Thin.

-   Hips/seed formation: None observed. The plant has not been grown to    the stage of hip and seed development due to its use as a greenhouse    grown flowering potted plant.

-   Winter hardiness: Due to the variety's principal use in greenhouses,    winter hardiness has not been evaluated.

-   Disease resistance: Very good resistance to powdery mildew    (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) diseases    under normal growing conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant as hereinillustrated and described: (a) Forms abundant, attractive long lastinghot pink flowers; (b) Exhibits an upright and bushy growth habit; (c) Issuited for growing in greenhouse in pots from softwood cuttings, and;(d) Exhibits durable flowers and foliage suitable for distribution inthe floral industry; substantially as herein illustrated and described.